Double Decker Express

Double Decker Express
KSR Bengaluru - MGR Chennai Central AC Double Decker Express departing from KSR Bengaluru
Overview
Service type Superfast
System 6 (AC) + 2 (Mixed)
Status Operational in 5 routes
Locale Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan
First service 24 August 2012
Successor Uday Express
Current operator(s) Indian Railways
Website https://indianrail.gov.in
Route
Line(s) used 5
On-board services
Class(es) AC Chair Car coaches
Seating arrangements Yes
Sleeping arrangements No
Catering facilities On-board Catering and E-Catering
Observation facilities Large windows in all carriages, Services operated by both state and corporate operators.
Entertainment facilities Electric outlets
Baggage facilities Overhead racks
Other facilities Bio-vacuum toilets
Fire & Smoke detection and many more
Technical
Rolling stock LHB Double Decker
Track gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
broad gauge
Electrification 25 kV AC at 50 Hz
Operating speed 130 km/h (81 mph)

On Indian Railways, The Double Decker Express is a series of express trains composed of bi-level seating arrangements for railway passengers, operated by the Indian Railways. These trains were started for shorter routes in order to serve more people than a traditional chair car carriage. These days, the stainless steel LHB Coaches built at Kapurthala Coach Factory are utilized in AC Double Decker Trains. The Howrah–Dhanbad AC Double Decker Express was the first of its type to be introduced.

Currently, new era of Double Decker Express trains are introduced in Indian Railways which is named as Uday Express. Currently, two Uday Express trains are in service. The first one is Bangalore City–Coimbatore Uday Express and the second is Visakhapatnam–Vijayawada Uday Express.

AC double decker trains

The AC Double Decker coaches has seating capacity of 120 seats, divided into lower deck, upper deck and mezzanine seating area.

Currently operational train list
Train no. Route Distance
12931/12932 Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad Double Decker Express  491 km
22625/22626 Chennai–Bangalore Double Decker Express 359 km
12583/12584 Lucknow Junction–Anand Vihar Terminal Double Decker Express 479 km
12985/12986 Jaipur–Delhi Sarai Rohilla AC Double Decker Express 304 km
22707/22708 Visakhapatnam–Tirupati Double Decker Express 761 km

Defunct AC double decker express

Formerly operational train list
Train no. Route Distance
11085/11086
&
11099/11100		 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Madgaon AC Double Decker Express  592 km
22185/22186 Bhopal–Indore AC Double Decker Express 263 km
22117/22118 Guntur–Kacheguda AC Double Decker Express 287 km
22183/22184 Habibganj–Indore Junction AC Double Decker Express 259 km
12385/12386 Howrah–Dhanbad Double Decker Express 263 km
22119/22110 Kacheguda–Tirupati Double Decker Express 636 km

Non-AC double decker trains

Chennai–Bangalore AC Double Decker Express
Lucknow–New Delhi Double Decker Express
Currently operational train list
Name Train no. Route Distance Notes
Flying Ranee 12921/12922 Mumbai Central–Surat 263 km The first superfast train which gets Non-AC Double Decker Coaches in Western Railway.
Mumbai Central–Valsad Fast Passenger 59023/59024 Mumbai Central–Valsad 195 km The second train which gets non-AC double decker coaches in Western Railway.
Ahmedabad–Mumbai Central Double Decker Express
Guntur–Kacheguda Double Decker
Tirupathi–Kacheguda Double Decker express
Inside view of a Double Decker train in India
Formerly operational train list
Name Train no. Route Distance Notes
Sinhagad Express 11009/11010 Mumbai CSM Terminus–Pune 192 km First train to have double deck rake in India. About ten coaches were attached but were removed eventually.
Deccan Queen Superfast Express 12123/12124 Mumbai CSM Terminus–Pune 192 km Used to haul Double Decker bogies during 1980s but were eventually removed.
Deccan Express 11007/11008 Mumbai CSM Terminus–Pune 192 km One or two Double Decker coaches were added. This did not last for long and the coaches were removed.
Sahyadri Express 11023/11024 Mumbai CSM Terminus – Kolhapur 518 km Hauled Double Decker coaches between Mumbai and Pune and vice versa. But today has Single Decker coaches only.
Panchvati Express 12109/12110 Mumbai CSM Terminus–Manmad 258 km This train used to haul Non-AC Double Decker bogies in the 1990s.
Mumbai–Pune Passenger Mumbai CSM Terminus–Pune 192 km This train used to haul Double Decker bogies. This train has been shut down due to introduction of Mumbai CST–Sainagar Shirdi Fast Passenger / Mumbai CST–Pandharpur Fast Passenger / Mumbai CSMT–Vijapura Fast Passenger.

See also